Clutch mechanism



G. G. MORIN ET AL CLUTCH MECHANISM Filed April 27, 1957 9 M NU WNmflfidfi R MG ..0 E5 T We A MM E g m P'atented- Oct. 11, 1939 2,110,468cw'rcrr Macnamsiu' George G. Morin and Emile J. Carleton, Holyoke, Mass.

Application April 21, 1937, Serial no. 139,131

This invention relates to a friction clutch operated by fluid pressure,and has as one object to provide a clutch of this character which ismore uniform and positive in operation. A further object is to provide asimplified structure which is economical to manufacture and maintain.Other and further objects residing in the details of the constructionwill be apparent from the following specification and claim. 0 In theaccompanying drawing which illustrates one embodiment of the invention,

' Fig. 1 is a. side elevational view, and

Fig. 2 is a sectional view substantially on line 2-2 of Fig. 1. a

Referring to the drawing, Ill indicates a powerdriven shaft to which issplined, as at Ii, a wheel member H. The outer edge of member i2 isformed with an annular recess l8, concentric with the shaft and V-shapedin cross section as shown in Fig. 2.

The wheel member [2 is provided inwardly of the recess i3 with aplurality of pins It upon which are slidably mounted an annular ringmember to. 7 As best shown in Fig. 2, annular member to is formed withan annular recess it, also V-shaped in cross section, and opposingrecess i3. Member. to is normally forced outwardly along pins it bysprings i1 surrounding the pins between wheel member I2 and annular 36member to. The outer ends of pins it are threaded to receive nuts itlimiting the outward move: ment of the ring. Annular member i5 isadapted to be moved toward member l2 against the ac-- tion of springs llby means later described and as member it with the parts carried therebyconstitute the driving member of the clutch. The

, driven member of the clutch includes a wheel or spider Eli which asshown is secured by machine bolts 29 to a bevel gear 22 freely rotatableon do shaft to and separated from the hub portion of wheel l2 by thrustbearings 23. The outer periphery of member 2b is provided with a flange2:? extending over the periphery of member i2. The free edge of flange26 is provided with flange 4.5 25, secured thereto as by bolts or screws2t, and extending radially inwardly between members 52 and i5. Flange 25is provided with a pluralityof openings-2i in which are mounted frictionblocks 2d, said blocks being transversely slidable 5a in the openings2?. The ends of blocks 28 are inclined to correspond with the faces ofthe recesses l3 and it.

Thesprings ill tend to hold annular member l5 spaced from memberl2'sumciently to prevent frictional engagement of the blocks 28 in therecesses as and is so that rotation of shaft lfl and member I! does notimpart rotation to member 28.

Member to is adapted to be moved toward member l2, against the action ofsprings ll, 6 to effect frictional engagement of the blocks 28 betweensaid members and thereby drive member 20. The preferred means for doingthis comprises a plurality of fluid pressure cylinders 30 formed inmember l2 and opening toward it the face ofsaid member upon whichannular member I? is mounted. The cylinders are provided with pistons-3iprovided with stems 32 which extend outwardly of the open ends of thecylinders and are guided by openings 33 15 formed in caps 34 fitted inthe ends of the cylinders. The openings 33 may be made suificientlylarger than the stems 32 to vent the adjacent side of the pistons or aseparate vent opening may be provided for the purpose.

Fluid pressure is admitted to or released from the closed end ofcylinders 30 through ports dl opening into an annular'duct 42 formed inthe hub of member 62 and connected by a passage 44 with a duct extendinglongitudinally of shaft to and connected to any suitable source of fluidpressure not shown.

The cylinders at are equally spaced circferentially around member 92 andeach is in radial alignment with one of the pins to. Pivm otally mountedon each or the so aligned pins is a lever 36, one end of which engagesthe free end of the stem 32 of the piston in the adjacent cylinder whilethe other end bears on the outer face of annular member it. The levers3d are held on the pins to by the nuts l8 and are maintained in contactwith the stems 32 and mem ber it by the force of springs lll which alsotend to force the pistons toward the closed ends of the cylinders.

'As will be obvious from Fig. 2, the admission of fluid pressure to theclosed ends of the cyl inders will drive the'pistons 3i outwardly, thuscausing stems 32 to pivot the levers it on pins id and force member l5toward member i2 as against the action of springs ii. The blocks 2@ arethus frictionally engaged between the members l2 and E5 to cause member23 to be driven with member l2 from the power shaft ill.

The slidable mounting of blocks 28 in flange so 25 permits the blocks toadjust themselves between the members it and i5, assuring their properfrictional engagement with both of said members. This ability of theblocks to center themselves obviates any necessity of a fine initialadjustment of the relation of flange 25 with respect to members I! andI5 and the proper centering of the'blocks is automatically maintainedduring the wear of the blocks even though the blocks should tend to wearon one face faster than on the other.

Preferably the outer faces of members l2 and II are provided with fins38 which help to radiate I any heat generated in the clutch.

What we claim is:

In a friction clutch, a clutch member including a rigid wheel memberprovided adjacent its periphery with an annular V-shaped groove, pinsrigidly secured to the wheel member, anannular member slidably mountedon said pins for axial movement toward and from the wheel member andprovided on its inner face with a V-shaped groove opposing the v-shapedgroove of the wheel, a second clutch member including a flange portionextending radially inwardly between said wheel and annular members andprovided with transverse openings, friction members mounted in saidopenings and transversely slidable therein, said friction members beingformed with wedge-shaped faces engageable in the V-shaped grooves of thewheel and annular members, springs surrounding said pins between thewheel and annular members and tending to separate the latter, aplurality of levers respectively pivotally and slidably mounted on saidpins and arranged radially with respect to the wheel, said levers havingtheir outer ends engaging the outer face of the annular member, aplurality of fluid pressure cylinders carried by the wheel, stemmedpistons operating in said cy1inders,'the stems of said pistonsrespectively engaging the inner ends of said levers,and means forsimultaneously admitting fluid pressure to the cylinders to thereby movethe annular member toward the wheel and eifect a driving engagement ofthe friction members betweenthe wheel and annular members.

GEORGE G. MORZIN. EMILE J. CARLE'ION.

